It's been awhile...

It's been awhile... I guess writing blog is like keeping a digital diary of ourselves... It is a good habit to write diary, as it can remind me of what i have gone through these days. I am being forgetful these days...

A lot has happened since I last posted my blog last year haha... I can't believed I served in the BB ministry for more than a year now. Been wondering what have I done to the children, or rather have I done my part in impacting their lives... How to move from here on?

Kindergarten graduation photo. Student of 2009 ^^

dickytpt@hotmail.com

S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E.

S = Spiritual Alertness
A = Athletic Fitness
C = Career Excellence
R = Relational Faithfulness
I = Information Technology Awareness
F = Financial Savvy
I = Interest Creativeness
C = Compassion Fullness
E = Environmental Involvement

S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E. = Guideline to build up a whole being ^^

Along with these facts :
God is Almighty; therefore I will Trust in Him.
God is All Knowing; therefore I will Follow Him.
God is All Present; therefore I will never be Alone.
God is All Loving; therefore I am Loved.
God is All Forgiving; therefore I no longer live in Sin.

Will share it along the way as I learn... Jia you jia you ~~~

Emptiness~~~

After so long (phew), I am back... ^^ I actually find it very ironic coz I've been known to help others solve their problems. However, I simply cant solve my own problems, let alone know what is going on with me =="

Perhaps the hunch of quitting Master in UM about a year ago was a wise choice. After a year, not much progress at all. Though I managed to survive the candidature defense, I myself felt that I should be able to do more than this. Then y cant I do more??? Where does all my time gone to??

Thanx for celebrating my birthday and the efforts taken to organize the "surprise'" for me... Perhaps I should act dumb like Joie jie instead of seeing through things as alwez... Its been a long time since I have surprises. And the last surprise wasnt pleasant at all, when I least expected it...

Its been a long time since I find someone to chat with. Its been a long time since I spend time relating to others. Its been a long time since I felt young again... Keke not that I am that old, just that I am spiritually and emotionally burdened... I felt that I am "drying up". Now this is a bad sign: If we are alwez connected to the source of Life, then we will not be "drying up" at all. But the fact is that I am "drying up", therefore there's something wrong between me and my source of Life...

I lost my father's present for me, a mechanical pencil that can be sharpen, which I believed is somewhere near Sungai Chongkak, Ulu Langat during the last camp. All that is left is the rubber and sharpener part of it. Not that i am being fussy about it, just that I dun receive much gift from my dad. ^^ Well, apart from the car n the house ==" May i learn to be content and learn to give thanx in all circumstances. It's not easy seeing through the car and the house especially. There are so many aspects to which we need to consider. First of all the budget, the workmanship, the comfort and suitability of the renovation plan, etc etc etc... Basically life is full of choices, and we make choices all the while. And in my opinion, I tend to make "bad" choices for myself, not so bad choices for others (apart from choosing clothes and fashion stuff). People come to me for opinions, claiming that I am more experienced and wiser... Looking at myself, I wonder whether those opinions I gave out really helped them or worsen the situation... Did I push myself too hard?

I seldom volunteerily take charge of things now, afraid of making wrong decision. Changed from melancholy choleric to melancholy plegmatic. Safer this way perhaps, to me and others. I've been keeping myself away from things that may hurt me. I din think me being so fragile all the while. Perhaps God blessed me so much all the while that I got so pampered and when I fall, I find it tough to get back up again. Boys' Brigade ministry helped me bit by bit, in teaching me how to love, in this case, kids. Impacting lives has been my purpose all this while, and I luv the kids as they are so... I dunno how to explain... Beings that God created that have blessed me as well as their parents. And I believed God is using me as an instrument and channel to bless them as well as their parents. It is so comforting seeing them smile with their mouth wide open and their eyes closed ^^ And of coz if they are naughty I can alwez punish them keke...

For those who gets to read this, please continue to pray for me. For strength to carry on, for courage to face challenges and to love once again, for lives to be impacted, for direction when I am lost, for wisdom to solve problems, for a loving heart to treat those around me, and for an obedient heart to follow His ways. Thank you for listening to my sharing. Its really been awhile...

Deerland N Elephant Sanctuary Photos ^^

Now this has really been awhile...

December... Hi and Bye~~~

So fast December dy... Time really flies... Sigh~~~ Getting older lo...

Anyway December seems so packed for me. With no grant for 2009 yet and conference near April 2009, 2009 seems a bit gloomy o.O" Anyhow, December is Christmas month... So v shud hav some Christmas mood around us... "O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear saviour's birth..."

To start off December, first Saturday is Family day cum Fund Raising day for BB. Thank God got a lot of ppl helping me out ie. pyong, joie, seng, caren, and er... church members (and not forgetting those contributing financially also) ^^ So many things to prepare, er... I think my division is the least though keke... Still, joie, seng and daryl helped out in the preparation of the tickets, really helped out alot ^^ Thanx guys~~~ Then my bro will helped out in the technical parts, for example the photo sticker part, volunteers' name tag, officers' name tag, signboards... Plz keep this event in ur prayers ya~~~

Then the Monday 8th of Dec is a holiday. Tapi I tak holiday. Got Futsal competition for youth below 16 yrs old. Was designated as time keeper. Or as score keeper. Something like tat ^^ Football was never my thing keke... And erm... Not much info regarding this, coz me keh leh feh only ^^~

Then after tat Thursday holiday~~ Yahoo... BUT THEN... 9-11th of Dec nite got drill exercise for officers o.O" Holiday also need to work =.=" It's ok for me though coz i dunno how to give command for BB and also dunno how to enforce the dicipline in the kids... Now this one really headache... No respect u, they will climb over ur head, then susah lead the group... So i must be very very strict... But then sumhow quite susah also. U will know wat i meant if u c the way they do push ups. Very funny de... I got a few pictures, but then not my camera =.= Sigh~~~ Perhaps its time to get a camera ^^ Hohoho Budget 2009 must include~~

Then after tat, 13th until 16th of Dec got a LifeGame camp at Kuala Kubu Bharu, somewhere near Rawang i assume, coz it's a few KTM station fr Rawang. The camp is about 100 campers size, and currently short of 7 helpers. So plz keep praying and ask God to provide helpers for this camp, that many more will come to know Him. Please read Luke 16:19-31. And see which side u will end up in near future ^^

After camp, almost Christmas le... No plans for Christmas yet... Was thinking of making a trip south to Singapore... Well see how things goes... Coz 5th of Jan will make a trip up north to Penang... ^^ Happening leh... Will bring a Sabah frend, Eyen jalan jalan... Main target: Penang Tao Jap buffet... Along the way will sapu all the food: Laksa, curry laksa, popiah, char kue teow, lobak, har mee, loh mee, basically all the penang food and stuff like tat... Joie jie plz suggest a few places to get all those nice stuff ya~~~

Hmm... Looks like tat's all the nice and happening stuff around me these time... Will keep updating fr time to time to share about each of the events... Oh ya, did i mentioned i got back my Smart Money and Stock Market game set? Hohoho... Ciaoz~~ God bless all of you~!~

Tired... Yet rewarding ^^

Seng asked where is the next part tat i promised... Haha sorry it took so long ^^ I was thinking of changing my style abit by sharing songs and write something about them ^^

Though I hav disappointments, but yet i insisted there are returns.

The saturday after Deepavali, I joined BB as a warden officer. Kids still dunno me as an officer of coz... So i dun mind them ignoring my authority and leave all the punishments to the other officers. Then came the day where there was this outing to the Elephant sanctuary and deerland somewhere near Lanchang, Pahang. I was supposed to look after this older group of kids, which have known me for quite some time, so i get a little respect fr them. However, due to an officer's absence, I was arranged to replace that officer. That group consists of younger kids whom i seldom interact with. First look at it, i saw trouble. The famous troublesome-two were there. One of them immediately look me up, and ask me whether i m an officer. When i answer yes, he straight away ask, "Where is your trousers? Your belt? Your hat? Officer meh?" I was like... Zzz ini budak... When there is situation like this, for short term purposes there's only left one thing to do. Can u guess was is it? What happens if ur subordinate doesn't respect and obey u? Easiest thing to do is to transfer them elsewhere ^<^... Hohoho off he went to Jimmy's group. Settled. Better "settle" him first b4 he brings trouble.

Then after tat all the kids masuk bus, 4 officers and 5 helpers masuk van. Off v go~~ This reminds me, where are all the photos? o.O I hav taken some decent photos during the trip. Hopefully not BB's property, else susah o.o" By the way, this trip was handled by a tour guide. 2 places for a whole day, to both me n jimmy, is a waste of time. 10 something sampai deerland, walk one round, after take group photos, baru 11am == Lunch is at 11.30am, so lepak around while waiting for lunch to be served. Managed to interact w some of the older kids, as usual, v grew quite fond of each other. Got a few purposely come n kacau kali... Sigh... Kids... During lunch time, there was this one cute kid, Rebecca, kept kena kacau by bee. Often she has to leave her place awhile avoiding invading bee when she was having her lunch. She is a very sweet girl. So perhaps that was the reason only she kena kacau ^^. Anyway, after suggesting to sit in front of me, the bee took off, no longer kacau her. This proves tat me not so sweet after all =="

Perhaps its time for me to get a camera. So that i can take photos of others. I m not photogenic ^^. By the time v arrived elephant sanctuary, the elephants were having their "lunch break" ==" Tour guide really bad planning. Wasted another hour or so. And kids get restless ever so easily. So v push them into the store and get them ice-creams to keep them bz for awhile. At this time, the budak-tat-kena-banish-to-other-group, Gabriel Tan, came over and ask to return to the bus coz he left his bag in the bus. Zzz... The reason he needs his bag is becoz his extra set of shirts and towel was in it. See la... Never listen to instructions... Coz the tourguide said perhaps we will hav chance of getting wet while the elephants were having their bath. Then at the same time, there was this kid who wants to put his bag into the bus??!! Sigh~~~ Anyway i guided them back to the bus and get his stuff, while pursuading the other kid (dunno name ^^) to bring along his bag... So ended up, both kids carrying their bag back to the sanctuary. Then i wonder y the other kid tagged along... Weird... However, ended up no elephant ride, no elephant bath for the kids, coz they are kids ==. I also dunno bring shirt n towel for wat... Tourguide not doing her job to her best... Oh ya, i din mention about the bus driver right? He is an indian guy. The bus was speeding along Karak highway, overtaking cars at corners b4 genting exit. This is wat i do when i am driving a CAR, not a BUS. The bus slanted to a side everytime he masuk corner at high speed. V were in the van behind the bus and it was so terrifying, knowing tat the bus was full w kids. So v asked jimmy to call captain who is onboard the bus to remind the driver to slow down. The van at 110kmph still cant catch up the bus o.O" After the phone call, the bus slowed down, this time barely moving... Zzz... This fella cari pasal w us... Naik bukit also din press pedal, coz no smoke come out at all... So v played along w him lo... Drive slowly... V 忍忍忍忍... Coz v also know he biasa speeding wont tahan long de... ^^ Coz i also like tat ma keke... Then after the petronas stop where v stop for toilet, he slowly picked up speed, to acceptable level dy... Tat short distance v used up one bar of petrol... Zzzz waste of petrol only... Anyhow v managed to talk to him during the toilet break time and try to build up a friendly relationship. Well, sumhow it works ^^ Thank God for that... During the journey back, v drove back first coz v hav to attend to the parents who are alwez earlier coz they so gan cheong... So its our turn to "pit" the bus ngek ngek ngek...

After tat, i torn my shoe zzz... Reason? I played football using that black shoe... Sigh~~~ Jalan so far no problem, sekali play football w kids torn pulak... No time to buy shoe, coz gonna celebrate Suk Haun's birthday after tat... Din know was her birthday, else will get a vegetarian cake for her as well coz i ordered a vegetarian cake 2 days b4 for Karthik... I sampled the cake b4 i buy de... Sumhow the cake din get a good response at Genting... Sob sob... But seriously, the cake was not as good as the slice i had earlier. Not much green tea taste, chocolate also so giam siap... The pathetic part is, this is the shop Suk Haun the vegetarian introduced de... Swt... Wat can i say??

V bought 2 bottles of red wine over. One is 999 Bin Merlot, another one is Red Hill Merlot. 999 cost about rm50, the other one half price. V opened the Bin and it tasted so so only... Yet another swt... The Red Hill, on the other hand, taste smoother... Sigh... Wrong gift tim... The Red Hill is still in our house, one opened, and bought a new one ^^ All these chaotic stuff ended with me determining to wear the shoe my bro gave me for Genting coz he cant wear. Zzzz...

This is a song named "Still". Through all these chaotic situation, be still and know that the Lord is still in-charge. With me being "still", i banish a kid to other group, did some funny stuff during the visits, played around with the bus driver "who is the slowest" and "u cant catch me", rescued a princess fr bee attack, avoiding another cake mistake, got out of the wine mistake by fixing Suk Haun's com, scored a few goals w the torn shoes, and not forgetting the weird looking shoe tat my bro gave which make me shorter than Joie jie... Zzzz... Wat a day~~~

Still Lyrics
Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
Within Your mighty hands

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You, above the storm
Father, You are king over the flood
I will be still and know You are God

Find rest my soul, in Christ alone
Know His power, in quietness and trust

Thank you all~~~

Thank all of you for being a part of my wonderful life. Continue to pray that each and everyone of us will be able to keep our focus on Him, with the strength He has given us when we cried out to Him. Pray that we will see each other again in heaven, and for eternity. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.


Words and Music by Ray Boltz

I dreamed I went to heaven
And you were there with me
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name
You turned and saw this young man
And he was smiling as he came

And he said, Friend
You may not know me now
And then he said, But wait
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start
And one day when you said that prayer
I asked Jesus in my heart

CHORUS:
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave

Then another man stood before you
And said remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry
You didn't have much money
But you gave it anyway
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that's why I am here today

CHORUS

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed

And I know up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord
He said, My child look around you
Great is your reward

CHORUS (repeat)

I am so glad you gave